Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank stated that the national electric train hit the rails at the end of May and that factory tests have started as of today, and that road tests will begin at the end of August after the factory tests.
“Speaking at the Factory Testing Ceremony of the National Electric Train Set held at the factory of the Turkish Wagon Industry Joint Stock Company (TÜVASAŞ) in Adapazarı district, Varank said that it was a historic day.
Stating that the factory tests of the national electric train, which is a sign of the distance Turkey has covered on the path to the National Technology Move, have started, Varank said that he personally witnessed how engineers and workers worked hard to make the train ready for testing during his visit in February.
Varank stated that despite the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) process, TÜVASAŞ’s workers took all their precautions and continued to work day and night, and said, “Thanks to that effort, our train hit the rails at the end of May, thank God, factory tests are starting as of today. After the factory tests, August Finally, road tests will be carried out.” said.
“National electric train is a statement of pride in every aspect”
Pointing out that the national electric train is a statement of pride in every aspect, Varank said, “We have reached this level today thanks to the aluminum body production, painting and sandblasting facilities that were put into operation last year. Designed for intercity travel, this train can be produced at a 20 percent more affordable cost than its imported counterparts.” But more importantly, what makes us very happy is the high localization rate achieved. A tremendous synergy has been achieved with the suppliers. Yes, the final product is of course very valuable. But the production ecosystem that develops with this product and the new capabilities that Turkey has gained may be more important than the final product. It’s much more valuable.” he said.
Stating that the traction system, which can be described as the brain of the train, and the train control and monitoring system were carried out together with Aselsan, Varank continued as follows:
“Thus, for the first time, a critical subsystem was developed by the domestic industry, including hardware, software and algorithm content. More than 30 components, from air conditioning systems to bogie chassis, from interior cladding and lighting systems to vacuum toilet systems, were supplied from our domestic companies. This is how the prototype “The local production rate in the set was 60 percent. Hopefully, it will be possible to increase this rate to 80 percent with mass production.”
Minister Varank pointed out that the annual market volume of the rail systems sector in the world is around 160 billion euros and is expected to grow rapidly in the coming period, and said that they aim to make Turkey a global player in this field.
“Türkiye has great potential in rail systems”
Pointing out that Turkey has a great potential in rail systems, Varank continued his speech as follows:
“We can both meet our own needs and get a share from the global market very easily. The way to do this is to create scale in this field. We will spend 15 billion euros on rail systems in the next 10 years. Look, this is a very serious economic scale. Therefore, we should never miss to develop the rail systems sector.” “There is a necessary opportunity, and therefore a responsibility placed on us. We need to make the best use of it. The steps we will take in this field will directly serve our industrialization goals and our National Technology Move. Municipalities, public institutions and the private sector, in coordination, will develop Turkey with rail systems. “He has to take responsibility to make the company a global player in its field. Everyone has a role to play here.”
Minister Varank emphasized that no success comes by itself and that the point reached by the defense industry, which is a source of pride for the country, is never a coincidence.
“If our esteemed President had not said ‘stop’ to the ready-made procurement model in the defense industry, we would not be able to use our own UAVs and UCAVs today, and we would continue to entrust our national security to other countries.” Varank said:
“If we are shown as an example to the world in this field, behind this lies planning, strict follow-up, strong will and determination. We can show the same success in rail systems. We can quickly achieve localization in this field with the leverage created by public procurement and investments. Industrial Cooperation to plan investments and implement them with domestic products We can implement the projects in the best possible way. As the Ministry, we have technical knowledge that no other public institution has at this point. Capabilities in the field of rail systems should not remain idle and sustainability should be ensured. Only in this way can we produce high-speed train systems and subsystems with our own means. In this sense, we have a positive impact on the sector. We attach great importance to the fact that public tenders are carried out in accordance with the SİP application.
I want to state this very clearly; Accepting locality and nationality as an indispensable principle for total development
k, it is necessary to protect local companies. There are advanced capabilities in rail systems in our country. Our companies win tenders in foreign countries and export their production. Vehicles of our companies such as Durmazlar and Bozankaya are used in Europe and the Far East. Today, TÜVASAŞ is leaving behind a unique step in the national electric train project. I believe that the newly established TURAYSAŞ will create a great power in the sector. With the cooperation of our companies and suppliers in the ecosystem, we can quickly climb the upper levels in the industry. “As the Ministry, we attach importance to and support all initiatives in this direction.”
“As the Ministry, we will continue to provide serious support”
Varank stated that, as the Ministry, they have provided serious support to the rail systems sector and will continue to do so, and said, “We have clearly emphasized the importance of this sector in our 2023 Industry and Technology Strategy. Again, we have determined rail systems as the priority product group in our technology-oriented industrial move program. TCDD and its affiliates have a partnership with TUBITAK institutes.” “We put the first national electric shunting locomotive developed on the rails in 2015. Thus, we have completely eliminated our country’s dependence on abroad for shunting locomotives.” he said.
Minister Varank stated that they aimed to bring the first national mainline locomotive with a power of 5000 kilowatts to the rails in 2022 with another project launched in October 2017, and that they established the Rail Transportation Technologies Institute in partnership with TÜBİTAK and TCDD, and their aim was to first develop technologies that meet their own needs and then develop these technologies. He stated that his aim is to become a country that exports technologies.
Pointing out that a difficult period has been left behind with the pandemic, Varank said:
“As you know, good news is coming one after another on the economic front. On the production side, electricity consumption, orders and capacity utilization in the industry are increasing. Domestically, confidence in the economy and investment appetite continue to increase. When we look at foreign markets, we can see the recovery trend. What is important for us is the upward trend.” This trend is gaining more and more strength and is becoming permanent.
We also saw this with the epidemic; Whenever we want, we can do what no one else can do and achieve what no one else can achieve, with a spirit of mobilization that is unique in the world. Intensive care respirator is one of them. Inspiring and exciting projects continue in the fields of diagnostic kits, vaccines and medicines. “Even during the epidemic, there are factories opening and entrepreneurs boldly pursuing new businesses.”
Explaining that the tests of the national electric train have started today and that the national train sets will be put into service of the nation within the year depending on the status of the tests, Varank said, “The next goal is to produce High Speed Train sets with a range of over 200 kilometers. The competencies gained in the national electric train project will hopefully be used in the development of the high-speed train.” It will make things much easier. I would like to express my gratitude to the valuable managers of TÜVASAŞ and to all my working brothers, from engineers to workers, who made us feel this pride. I heartily congratulate our Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoğlu, and his team, who claimed this important success in a short time and brought this work to Turkey with their leadership. “I would like to thank Sakarya and the people of Sakarya for being pioneers.” he said.
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/politika/sanayi-ve-teknoloji-bakani-varank-rayli-sistemler-sektorunde-kuresel-oyuncu-olmayi-hedefyiz/1893278
